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entertainment

Providence named America’s most exciting mid-sized city

WITH 37 PERCENT of its residents between the ages of 18 and 34, and one nightlife venue per 523 people, Providence ranks No. 1 on Movoto Real Estate's list of the 10 most exciting mid-sized cities in the United States.

PROVIDENCE – Movoto Real Estate has named Rhode Island’s capital city the most “exciting” mid-sized city in the country, awarding high scores for Providence’s young population and vibrant nightlife.

To compile the ranking, Movoto examined six factors: most nightlife establishments per capita, most live music venues per capita, most active lifestyle or outdoor venues per capita, fewest fast food establishments per capita, highest percentage of non-fast food restaurants, and highest percentage of residents between the ages of 20 and 34.

Movoto identified 117 cities across the United States with populations between 120,000 and 210,000 residents and ranked each according to the six criteria, based on data collected from business listings and U.S. Census demographics.

“Despite being one of the oldest cities in the U.S. (hailing from 1636), Providence has one of the youngest populations of any city we looked at,” Movoto editor Randy Nelson wrote. “Nearly 37 percent of the people who call this city of more than 178,000 home are in our active young age group of 18 to 34 years old, which earned it a seventh-place rank for that criterion.”

In addition to its youthful demographic, Providence ranked at No. 5 overall for most live music venues – with one for every 523 residents in the city – and also clinched the No. 5 spot for highest percentage of non-fast food dining options.

Providence ranked at No. 3 for nightlife, with one bar, club or comedy venue per 523 city residents.

Providence was one of only two New England mid-sized cities to make the list. The other, New Haven, Conn., ranked sixth overall and scored particularly well with regard to percentage of non-fast food restaurants, for which it placed at No. 3. New Haven also ranked sixth for lowest number of fast food restaurants per capita, with only one per 10,057 residents.

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